Betfair & Djetou

Friday 19 July 2002

Fulham Football Club and Betfair.com announce major new sponsorship deal

Fulham Football Club and Betfair.com today announced a major new one-year sponsorship deal which will see the betting exchange's logo on the famous black and white shirts. Betfair.com is the Official Men's Team Sponsor for the 2002/3 Premiership Season as well as becoming the exclusive and Official Betting Partner of Fulham Football Club.

Betfair.com will be building a dedicated betting site along with setting up internet betting terminals at Loftus Road where Fulham FC ground share next season with Queen's Park Rangers football Club.

The agreement is a progression of this young and dynamic company's involvement in sport. Betfair.com is the largest online betting company in the UK, having launched as recently as June 2000. The company now employs over 100 people and is forecasting turnover of over £1.5 billion in 2002.

Mohamed Al Fayed, Chairman of Fulham Football Club, commented:

'The Club is very excited about the sponsorship agreement with Betfair, a brand that is emerging as one of the brightest new names in the betting industry. The rise of this football club is the result of my vision for us to achieve great things both domestically and internationally. I am always happy to be involved with brands that share my drive and passion, and I am sure that it will be a very successful combination of two ambitious organisations which I believe makes it the right choice of partner for us'.

Edward Wray, Chief Executive of Betfair, commented:

'Fulham's achievement in the last few years of coming from the lower divisions to compete with the Premiership's biggest clubs makes it a perfect fit with Betfair, and we are delighted to have completed this deal. Both Fulham and Betfair have been prepared to throw down the gauntlet to more established organisations in the last two years, and in partnership with each other we believe we will be the names to watch in the future.'

Meanwhile Fulham Football Club has today announced the signing of French International Martin Djetou from Italian club Parma, on a one year loan agreement with a view to a permanent signing.

Djetou, born in the Ivory Coast, spent four seasons with RC Strasbourg before joining Monaco in 1996 where, under Jean Tigana, he helped his side win the French Championship in his first season at the club.

Following a £6.5 m move from Monaco, the player spent last season in Italy with Parma as part of the squad that prevented Juventus winning the double by defeating them in the final of the Coppa Italia.

The 27-year-old defender has six international caps for France making his first appearance for the national side in the 4-0 win against Turkey in October 1996.